• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.285-298
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• 2000

Objectives : To investigate the positive rate of Helicobacter pylori in patients with dyspepsia; medical compliance and related factors; the eradication rate a year after screening and related factors; the relationship between the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and the improvement of symptoms; and the estimated cost of three alternative approaches to treat Helicobacter pylori in the community. Methods : A total of 510 subjects with dyspeptic symptoms were selected and given the serological test in March 1998. The subjects were all adults over 30 years of age residing in Kyongju city. Results : Of the 510 selected subjects, 375 (73.5%) subjects proved positive for Helicobacter pylori on serological testing. Of these 304 (81.1%) who consented to an endoscopic examination, underwent a Campylobacter-like organism (CLO) test. Of these 304 subjects, 204 (67.1%), who had positive CLO test results, were given the triple therapy - tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate, amoxicillin, and metronidazole. To determine the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori, 181 (88.1%) out of the 204 subjects who were given the triple therapy completed a follow-up urea breath test one year later. Of these, the Helicobacter pylori of 87(48.1%) subjects was eradicated. Among the 122 subjects who were medication compliant, the Helicobacter pylori eradication rate was 57.4% (70 subjects), while the eradication rates was only 28.8% (17subjects) in the non-compliant group. The Helicobacter pylori eradication was significantly related to compliance (p<0.01), but not to other characteristics and habits. The symptom improvement rate tended to be higher 62.1%), in the Helicobacter pylori eradicated group than in the non-eradicated group (59.6%). Conclusions : When the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative treatment were considered in the light of cost, antibiotic tolerance and the number of patients to be treated, alternative II was favorable in terms of cost. Alternative III was favorable in terms of the number of patients to be treated, antibiotic tolerance and early detection of gastric cancer. Further long-term research analyzing the cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness of each treatment will be needed as supporting material in creating new policies.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.462-472
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• 2001

Background : The determinants of intubation and the response to therapy in COPD patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure were retrospectively reviewed. Methods : This study involved a review of 132 episodes of hypercapnic respiratory failure($PaCO_2\;{\geq}\;50\;mmHg$ and $pH\;{\leq}\;7.35$). The time frame for resolution or the time to intubation of patients who were admitted between 1996 and 1999 was analyzed. Results : Out of 132 hypercapnic episodes, 49(37%) required intubation. A comparison was made with the 83 cases that responded to treatment. Patients requiring intubation had a greater severity of illness, which included a higher APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) score ($20{\pm}5$ vs $14{\pm}4$ ; p<0.01), a higher WBC, a higher serum BUN, and greater acidosis (pH, $7.23{\pm}0.11$ vs $7.32{\pm}0.04$ ; p<0.01). Those with the most severe acidosis(pH<7.20) had the highest intubation rate(87%) and shortest time to intubation($2{\pm}3\;h$). Conversely, those with an initial pH 7.31 to 7.35 were less likely to be intubated(20%), and had a longer time to intubation($97{\pm}121\;h$). The patients with a pH 7.21 to 7.25($4.1{\pm}2.9$ day) required longer period of time to respond to medical treatment than patients with a pH of 7.31 to 7.35($2.2{\pm}3.1$ day). Of those patients requiring intubation, half(55%) were intubated within 8 h of admission, and most (75%) within 24 h. Of those patients responding to treatment medical therapy, half(52%) recovered within 24 h and most (78%) recovered within 48 h. Conclusion: Respiratory acidosis at the initial presentation is associated with an increased likelihood of intubation. This should assist in deciding help with the decision whether to treat patients medically, institute noninvasive ventilation, or proceed to intubation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2016

Purpose The importance of quality control by the error to a minimum, which for the purpose of enhancing the reliability of the examination is not be emphasized excess. Currently, most nuclear medicine laboratory are conducting the internal and external quality control, and they are applying the Levey-Jennings or Westgard Multi-Rules by using the commercialized quality control materials. The reliability of the nuclear medicine blood test which affects the diagnosis of patients and the treatment policy is being secured through this quality control activity. Therefore, researchers will evaluate the utility of the statistic quality control using the population distribution of the nuclear medicine blood test conducted targeting the checkup examinees by the additional technique of the reliability improvement. Materials and Methods A statistic analysis was performed about 12 items of the nuclear medicine blood test targeting 41,341 peoples who used the health screening and promotion center in Asan Medical Center from January, 2014 to December, 2014. The results of 12 items of the nuclear medicine blood test was divided into the monthly percentage of three groups: within reference values, over reference, and under reference to analyze the average value of the population distribution, standard deviation, and standard deviation index (SDI). Results The standard deviation of the population distribution mostly showed a result within ${\pm}2SD$ in all groups. However, When the standard deviation of the population distribution represented a result over ${\pm}2SD$, it was confirmed SDI was showing a result of SDI > -2 or SDI > 2. As a result of analyzing the population distribution of 12 items(AFP, CEA, CA19-9, CA125, PSA, TSH, FT4, Anti-Tg-Ab, Anti-TPO-Ab, Calcitonin, 25-OH-VitD3, Insulin) of the nuclear medicine blood part basic test, when SDI of the monthly percentage which deviated from the reference values was over ${\pm}2.0$, CA19-9 September was 2.2, Anti-Tg-Ab may was 2.2, Insulin January was 2.3, Insulin March was 2.4. It was confirmed these cases were attributed to the abnormality of the test reagent (maximum combination rate of isotope reagent declined) and the decline of the test response time. Conclusion The population distribution includes the entire attribute which becomes the study object. It is expected the statistic quality management using the population distribution which was conducted targeting the checkup examinees by dividing into three groups: within reference values, over reference, and under reference by means of this characteristics will be able to play a role of complementing the internal quality control program which is being carried out in the laboratory.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.353-362
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• 2022

This study was a randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of breast massage applied to women of childbearing age with cyclic mastagia on breast pain, breast hardness, nipple extensibility, breast size, and breast blood circulation. The study participants were 54 women with cyclic mastalgia who were recruited from Medical Center C, Women's Hospital M, department stores located in City D, and Internet cafes. The experimental treatment was to apply breast massage for a total of 30 minutes, 15 minutes each to the left and right breasts during the period of cyclic mastalgia. After experimental treatment, breast pain (F=49.16, p<.001), breast hardness (Rt t=8.93, p<.001; Lt t=-10.34, p<.001), nipple extensibility (Rt t=3.58, p<.001 ; Lt t=4.66, p<.001), breast size (Rt F=60.59, p<.001; Lt F=51.05, p<.001) and breast blood circulation (Rt t=-1.30, p=.201; Lt t=-2.82, p=.007) were significantly different between the two groups. In conclusion, breast massage performed in this study was effective in relieving breast pain, relieving breast hardness, and improving breast blood circulation in participants with cyclic mastalgia.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.403-414
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is recommended in fit patients with a carcinoma (PDAC) of the pancreatic head, and a delayed resection may affect survival. This study aimed to correlate the time from staging to PD with long-term survival, and study the impact of preoperative investigations (if any) on the timing of surgery. Methods: Data were extracted from the Recurrence After Whipple's (RAW) study, a multicentre retrospective study of PD outcomes. Only PDAC patients who underwent an upfront resection were included. Patients who received neoadjuvant chemo-/radiotherapy were excluded. Group A (PD within 28 days of most recent preoperative computed tomography [CT]) was compared to group B (> 28 days). Results: A total of 595 patents were included. Compared to group A (median CT-PD time: 12.5 days, interquartile range: 6-21), group B (49 days, 39-64.5) had similar one-year survival (73% vs. 75%, p = 0.6), five-year survival (23% vs. 21%, p = 0.6) and median time-to-death (17 vs. 18 months, p = 0.8). Staging laparoscopy (43 vs. 29.5 days, p = 0.009) and preoperative biliary stenting (39 vs. 20 days, p < 0.001) were associated with a delay to PD, but magnetic resonance imaging (32 vs. 32 days, p = 0.5), positron emission tomography (40 vs. 31 days, p > 0.99) and endoscopic ultrasonography (28 vs. 32 days, p > 0.99) were not. Conclusions: Although a treatment delay may give rise to patient anxiety, our findings would suggest this does not correlate with worse survival. A delay may be necessary to obtain further information and minimize the number of PD patients diagnosed with early disease recurrence.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

This study is to decrease compound noise in x-ray films. This study compared Signal to noise ratio(SNR), Peak signal to noise ratio(PSNR), Mean square error(MSE) to surface of the earth. In addition, we evaluated noise elimination effect according to the kernel size of Median filter. This experiments show that some filters are useful by finding image that is near in circle image comparing circle picture with each processed picture. In noise power value, when cutoff frequency was compared with other filters of cutoff frequency. Cutoff frequency of $2/3\pi{\sim}3/4\pi$ is good and it shows good SNR and PSNR. Therefore, it can display high filter effect. As Median Filter's Kernel size grows SNR value gets bigger, which shows better filter effect. Most pictures are distorted after filter application in medical treatment image. It is important to keep spatial resolution in most medical images. Visual estimation as well as quantitative indicators should be necessary for a better image.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2019

Menadione is known as an anti-tumor factor. Many studies have reported the potential anti-cancer role of menadione against a range of cancer cell lines. In this study, the anti-cancer effects of menadione and the underlying molecular signaling involved in apoptosis was investigated in gastric cancer cell lines. The menadione treatment decreased the cell viability of MKN45 gastric cancer cells. The decreased cell viability was attributed to the induction of apoptosis, which was confirmed by the results indicating the activation of caspase-3 and -7 and the cleavage of PARP in Western blotting. The upstream regulatory molecules involved in apoptosis were investigated further and it was discovered that menadione reduced the expression of survivin, an inhibitor of upstream apoptosis proteins. In addition, a transcription factor ${\beta}$-catenin, which is known to regulate survivin expression, was down-regulated by menadione. A previous report showed that menadione inhibited XIAP expression to induce apoptosis and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest in AGS cells. This study elucidated another inhibitory mechanism of menadione against gastric cancer cells in a different cell line. Although further studies will be needed, the inhibitory mechanism demonstrated in this study will help better understand the anti-cancer effects of menadione.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.51-63
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to be of use for getting rid of job stress from dental technicians, by examining how much they were stressed out at work place as one of the professional medical personnels. The subjects in this study were 255 selected dental technicians who were working in the region of Taegu. The one-on-one interview was conducted from March 1 to 30, 2001, with structured questionnaire. The questionnaire sued in this study included 19 question items about the general characteristics and 29 items regarding job stress. The job stress was categorized into seven subareas based on earlier studies and considering the job situations of dental technicians: heavy workload, job conflicts, improper treatment, role and job knowledge, human relations, physical environment and personal matters. The job stress extent was measured on five-point Likert scale that is widely used in social science: one point for no stress, two for little stress, three for so-so, four for a little stress, and five for severe stress. Therefore, a higher point means a severer job stress. The reliability of the questionnaire turned out very good with Cronbach a = 0.9272. The findings of this study were as follows: 1. The general characteristics of the dental technicians investigated could be described as below: (1) By gender, 80.4% of the dental technicians were male, and 50.2%, the largest percentage, were in their 20s, followed by those in their 30s, those in their 40s, and those in their 50s in the order named. (2) The most common work place was dental technician shop(92.5%), followed by dental technology room in dental hospital or clinic and in general hospital in the order named. The primary duties were coating materials work(30.6%), followed by sculpture, grinding, partial and full denture and orthodontics in the order named. 2. The most larges (1) The most largest motivation to be a dental technician was its being a professional(33.7%), followed by the advice from others, their own aptitude, and good economic treatment in the order named. 3. Their job stress could be explained as below: (1) Their collective job stress average was 3.96$^{\circ}{\ae}$0.50 on the basis of 5 point, which showed that they were exposed to a fairly severe job stress. (2) By area, they were most stressed out from heavy workload (4.12), and they also were severely stressed from role and job knowledge(4.02) and personal matters(4.00). (3) By situation, they were most stressed when the disagreement of prosthesis that results from a specific error is unconditionally attributed to them(4.43). And they were also stressed a lot when their workload increases due to the rework(4.38), when a dentist asks something difficult for them to resolve(4.20), when heavy workload makes their working hours irregular and it's impossible to lead a personal life or have leisure time(4.16), and when they are o work for an excessively short time(4.16). This fact indicated that most of the dental technicians were exposed to a lot of stress in conjunction with job performance. 4. The main duties they took charge of didn't make any significant difference to their job stress, but yielded a significant difference to the extent of job stress in individual areas and the order of the most stressful one. Those who were engaged in grinding were most stressed from their own matters, whereas heavy workload was most stressful for those who were engaged in the other types of works. 5. As a result of seeing if their personal characteristics yielded any differences to job stress, the personal characteristics that made their job stress vary significantly were working hours, motivation of being a dental technician, job satisfaction and willingness to continue doing dental technology works. There was a tendency that longer working hours led to severer job stress, and those who chose to be a dental technician according to their own aptitude were less stressed than the others who became a dental technician because of economic reason or advices from others. And the people who were satisfied with their job were exposed to less job stress than the others who weren't, and those who had an intention to keep that job as much as possible were less stressed, compared to the others who hadn't.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.33-37
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• 2010

Purpose: In the early stage of using PET/CT, it was used to damper revision but recently shows that CT with MDCT is commonly used and works well for an anatomical diagnosis. This hospital makes the accuracy and convenience more higher in the diagnosis and evaluate of coronary heart disease through concurrently running myocardial perfusion SPECT examination, myocardial PET examination with FDG, and CT coronary artery CT angiography(coronary CTA) used PET/CT with 64-slice. This report shows protocol and image based on results from about 400 coronary heart disease examinations since having 64 channels PET/CT in July 2007. Materials and Methods: An Equipment for this examination is 64-slice CT and Discovery VCT (DVCT) that is consisted of PET with BGO ($Bi_4Ge_3O_{12}$) scintillation crystal by GE health care. First myocardial perfusion SPECT with pharmacologic stress test to reduce waiting time of a patient and get a quick diagnosis and evaluation, and right after it, myocardial FDG PET examination and coronary CTA run without a break. One-stop evaluation protocol of ischemic heart disease is as follows. 1)Myocardial perfusion SPECT with pharmacologic stress: A patient is injected with $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI 10 mCi and does not have any fatty food for myocardial PET examination and drink natural water with ursodeoxcholic acid 100 mg and we get SPECT image in an hour. 2)Myocardial FDG PET: To reduce blood fatty content and to increase uptake of FDG, we used creative oral glucose load using insulin and Acipimox to according to blood acid content. A patient is injected with $^{18}F$-FDG 5 mCi for reduction of his radiation exposure and we get a gated image an hour later and get delay image when we need. 3) Coronary CTA: The most important point is to control heart rate and to get cooperation of patient's breath. In order to reduce a heart rate of him or her below 65 beats, let him or her take beta blocker 50 mg ~ 200 mg after a consultation with a doctor about it and have breath-practices then have the examination. Right before the examination, we spray isosorbide dinitrate 3 to 5 times to lower tension of bessel wall and to extension a blood wall of a patient. It makes to get better the shape of an anatomy. At filming, a patient is injected CT contrast with high pressure and have enough practices before the examination in order to have no problem. For reduction of his radiation exposure, we have to do ECG-triggered X-ray tube modulation exposure. Results: We evaluate coronary artery stenosis through coronary CTA and study correlation (culprit vessel check) of a decline between stenosis and perfusion from the myocardial perfusion SPECT with pharmacologic stress, coronary CTA, and can check viability of infarction or hibernating myocardium by FDG PET. Conclusion: The examination makes us to set up a direction of remedy (drug treatment, PCI, CABG) because we can estimate of effect from remedy, lesion site and severity. In addition, we have an advantage that it takes just 3 hours and one-stop in that all of process of examinations run in succession and at the same time. Therefore it shows that the method is useful in one stop evaluation of ischemic heart disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.20 no.2 s.22
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• pp.312-321
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• 1987

To investigate the maternal and child factors associated with early detection of cerebral palsy, 74 mothers of cerebral palsy children who were born since January 1, 1980 and being treated at Taegu Rehabilitation Center for the Handicapped, Rehabilitiation Center of Taegu University, St. Paul Children's House and Pusan Welfare Association of Cerebral Palsy Children were interviewed from February to April 1987. There is no association between age of child when parents noticed the child's abnormality and educational level of father but it tend to be detected earlier when education level of mother is college or above compared with high school or under. There is a trend of earlier detection of child's abnormality although statistically not significant in case father is professional or managerial worker, monthly income of father is over \610,000, child is first-born, age of the parents is 34 years or under, child is a boy, and child has periodic well-baby check-up. The child's abnormality is detected earlier when mothers had 7 prenatal visits or more compared with those who had 6 visits or less (p<0.05). Parents noticed the child's abnormality first in 85.1% of the cases whereas doctors detected it first in 2.7% and this percentage was not different whether the child had periodic well-baby check-up or not. The first physician's diagnosis of the children was cerebral palsy in 36.5% and the rest was normal, need for observation, uncertain, etc. Parents took the child to doctor for diagnosis 2-3 months after they noticed the child's abnormality and after the child was diagnosed as cerebral palsy parents either took no therapeutic measure or brought the child to physiotherapy or acupuncture or gave herb medicine before they started specific rehabilitative therapy. For early detection of the cerebral palsy children, teaching of evaluation method for child development should be reinforced both in medical school and clinical training course and should train the specialist for diagnosis and treatment of crippling conditions. Also, public education is needed for the importance of early detection of crippling conditions and currently available methods for diagnosis and treatment.